YOUTH welfare experts in Ballarat are urging parents and friends to keep to keep teenagers in the loop and to have a bit of fun with each other amid isolation. Even if it means putting a biscuit on your forehead and trying to get it in your mouth only using your facial muscles. Headspace Ballarat is promoting the selfie-based biscuit challenge as a bit of fun inspiration, just like sharing pet photos, to promote positive messaging. The youth mental health organisation is also encouraging young people to pledge to contacting a friend you had not spoken to in a while during COVID-19 isolation, Headspace Ballarat youth engagement officer Andy Penny said it was important to protect and support young people and families in an uncertain time. "We've got young people with mental health concerns before COVID-19 and now there's added anxiety," Mr Penny said. "It's important to look at what's in your control and what's not in your control." Ballarat Police Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson, who leads the police youth Blue Light Blue Edge program, said as adults we can get focused on the constant news cycle and what this means for our community. But, often young people needed reassurance. Leading Senior Constable Hudson said it was important to keep talking to young people, to keep them in the loop with information and realities, and being aware of possible anxieties. He said the extended school break and uncertainty surrounding term two dates could be a particularly tough time for at-risk youth for whom school, structure and friends was a haven. Screen time for catching up with friends could be a good thing, Leading Senior Constable Hudson said, but so too was time outdoors that would have naturally been part of school breaks. He too, planned to have some fun with his daughters by bringing out his old Test Match cricket board game. Headspace Ballarat is operating drop-in and counselling services via phone (5304 4777) and conferencing site Zoom. The team is also becoming more active on social media, particularly Instagram, with tips for young people. And yeah, grab a biscuit. Kids Help Line: 1800 55 1800 Headspace Ballarat, including parent support: 5304 4777; headspace.org.au/eheadspace; @headspaceBallarat on Instagram and Facebook Beyond Blue:1300 22 4636 24 hours a day or via beyondblue.org.au/get-support. If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.

Coronavirus in Ballarat: biscuit challenge to help youth headspace in COVID-19

SUPPORT: headspace Ballarat's team is promoting the biscuit challenge, a selfie-based move to work a treat into your month, to create some fun.

YOUTH welfare experts in Ballarat are urging parents and friends to keep to keep teenagers in the loop and to have a bit of fun with each other amid isolation.

Even if it means putting a biscuit on your forehead and trying to get it in your mouth only using your facial muscles.

Headspace Ballarat is promoting the selfie-based biscuit challenge as a bit of fun inspiration, just like sharing pet photos, to promote positive messaging.

The youth mental health organisation is also encouraging young people to pledge to contacting a friend you had not spoken to in a while during COVID-19 isolation,

Headspace Ballarat youth engagement officer Andy Penny said it was important to protect and support young people and families in an uncertain time.

"We've got young people with mental health concerns before COVID-19 and now there's added anxiety," Mr Penny said. "It's important to look at what's in your control and what's not in your control."

Ballarat Police Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson, who leads the police youth Blue Light Blue Edge program, said as adults we can get focused on the constant news cycle and what this means for our community. But, often young people needed reassurance.

ADVICE: Ballarat Police Leading Senior Constable Des Hudson says it is important to keep young people in the loop, to be realistic and to be aware of anxieties. Picture: Adam Trafford

Leading Senior Constable Hudson said it was important to keep talking to young people, to keep them in the loop with information and realities, and being aware of possible anxieties.

He said the extended school break and uncertainty surrounding term two dates could be a particularly tough time for at-risk youth for whom school, structure and friends was a haven.

Screen time for catching up with friends could be a good thing, Leading Senior Constable Hudson said, but so too was time outdoors that would have naturally been part of school breaks.

He too, planned to have some fun with his daughters by bringing out his old Test Match cricket board game.

Headspace Ballarat is operating drop-in and counselling services via phone (5304 4777) and conferencing site Zoom. The team is also becoming more active on social media, particularly Instagram, with tips for young people.

HEADSPACE'S SEVEN TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HEADSPACE

Get into life - do stuff you love and things that are important to you

Learning skills for tough times, like a digital detox, writing things down or deep breathing

Create connections, even it it means virtually staying in touch with family and friends

Eat well

Stay active

Get enough sleep

Stay away from drugs and alcohol

If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thankyou very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.